Suction valve for an axial piston compressor

Abstract

A suction valve for an axial piston compressor has a leaf spring fixed at one end, which spring at one end is fixed with a fixed portion between valve plate and cylinder block, at its other end covers over the suction valve opening with a closure portion and has an intermediate portion connecting these portions. The intermediate portion is located substantially outside the cylinder cross-section. A stop for the suction valve leaf spring is arranged in the region of the cylinder wall facing the fixed portion. This produces an optimum filling of the cylinder and thus an improvement in the efficiency of the compressor, as is especially desirable for refrigeration compressors.

It is claimed: 
     
       1. Suction valve for an axial piston compressor, the compressor having a cylinder block with at least one cylinder and being covered by a valve plate having suction valve and discharge valve openings, the suction valve comprising a leaf spring having a fixed portion at one end, said fixed portion being fixed between the valve plate and the cylinder block,   the leaf spring also having a closure portion at an opposite free end, said closure portion substantially overlapping a cross section of the cylinder and covering the suction valve opening,   and the leaf spring having an intermediate portion connecting the fixed portion and the closure portion,   the intermediate portion being located substantially radially outside the cylinder cross section and co-operating with a stop on the cylinder block as the suction valve opens,   the stop being located in a region of a wall of the cylinder adjacent to the fixed portion.   
     
     
       2. Suction valve according to claim 1, in which the cylinder block has an end face having a recess for receiving the intermediate portion, which recess is bounded by an inclined ramp leading to the cylinder. 
     
     
       3. Suction valve according to claim 2, in which the ramp has a slope which is constant over its length. 
     
     
       4. Suction valve according to claim 2, in which the ramp has a slope which increases towards the cylinder. 
     
     
       5. Suction valve according to claim 4, in which the increase of the slope is continuous. 
     
     
       6. Suction valve according to claim 4, in which the increase of the slope is in a series of steps. 
     
     
       7. Suction valve according to claim 1, in which the fixed portion has at least two upturned lugs that engage openings in at least one of the valve plate and the cylinder block. 
     
     
       8. Suction valve according to claim 1, in which the leaf spring is bent in the intermediate portion in an opening direction of the closure portion. 
     
     
       9. Suction valve according to claim 1, in which in an open position the closure portion assumes an angle of at least 15° to the valve plate. 
     
     
       10. Suction valve according to claim 1, including an intake sound absorber having a channel, the channel and the suction valve opening being inclined in the opening direction of the closure portion. 
     
     
       11. Suction valve according to claim 1, in which the suction valve opening is located partly outside the cross section. 
     
     
       12. Suction valve according to claim 1, in which the suction valve opening extends obliquely through the valve plate and has an axis inclined with respect to the axis of the cylinder.